Minas Tirith City Hall (OOC)

[Eriol]

Wow, the 12th is getting here fast . I need to finish my Círdan's Court post and an Ever On: The World Beyond one about Mole Island for Cassie then I'll write Gondorian replies while responding to Imladris ones. Otherwise it might be March until I get here .

Since I've already done my second reply for Hunters a day ago, I'll be working on a Northern Fiefdoms short post for myself that ties with what happened to the drink Faramir set aside in Hunters, a mysterious person taking a sip from the glass watching the Rangers depart on their Osgiliath jog.

Then I'll go to Houses of Healing, Winter Is Come Pub, Buccaneers, and the Marketplace. I think that's all I'm needed for at present unless I'm mistaken ? Let me know, @A Good Wife and what details we need to sort out in addition to the Aldarion/Venturers short story I thought of last night ?

I'm waiting to see if Arnyn-Aragorn/Elessar will give a specialization to Beren or for the Hattie dog mischief with Cassie before I'm back in the Commons, I think, or I'll post Bear hanging out in the lounge where Nal can find him. I'll get done with replies I owe in Gondor first before getting my Swan Knights and Fourth Age Elves active in Belfalas and Ithilien in the Southern Fiefdoms Free RP. I considered writing Beren as a Tower Guard in its eponymous thread but I suppose I would need a specialization first, @Pele Alarion?

[Pele Alarion]

@Tharmáras Since Tower Guard is not strictly linked with Rangers, I don't see why you should need a specialization to post there. I would say you can easily go on patrol or something if you would like to. Isn't it right, @Winddancer?

[Eriol]

Okay, @Pele Alarion ! I see this part of @Winddancer's first IC post: "...he waited for his men to arrive and receive their orders." I'll be eager to read her advice here how to get started ⚔.

[Nessa Saelind]

@Lailyn - no need to get too specific, I was just wondering would they be the types of manuscripts that would be kept under lock and key because of sensitive, top-secret content, or generally just the scholar's research that might or might have not led to his early demise.

@Tharmáras - yes, I think that's all of your posts in Gondor for now. I'll catch up to you on Discord once I calculate in time zone difference, workday and other lovely RL things *insert math lady gif* so we can work out the details, iron out the kinks, especially if we're going to do some big edits in Buccaneers for which I hope Fuin will not shoot us. To paraphrase a quote Quellcrist Falconer count your arrows, Fuin, for there are more worthy targets

By the by re The Tower Guard @Winddancer did mention this "Do NOT feel obligated to come to Baelfor to get your orders, feel free to just jump in and rp your shift as you would like, this is just for those looking for a prompt" in the OOC of her first post, so feel free to jump in @Tharmáras be on patrol with Hattie and the like

[Winddancer]

What she said! :D

[Eriol]

Fuin won't mind

So I can Free RP in Tower Guard, gotcha .

Hattie the police pooch . I think Cassie will love that.

[Winddancer]

Yes you can :D Baelfor is just there if you need someone to rp with :) Otherwise, get about your duties!

[Nessa Saelind]

Hattie the police pooch . I think Cassie will love that.

<3 OMG, now I can't get this image of the dog from my mind! It cannot be unseen! So precious <3 Can't wait to see the shenanigans you (and Cassie) will think of for Hattie the Guard dog

[Eriol]

I can't get it out of my mind either, @A Good Wife ☺!

I have been entertaining cute/hilarious visions of Bear, Nal, and Hattie on patrol. I have thought of the Rangers and the energetic black terrier having a police stake out, Bear & Nal eating pastries from Nelladel's bakery like American cops having donuts in police buddy movies while Hattie is wolfing down chicken from the Old Guesthouse .

Beren and Nal running after a murderous thief but Hattie, the little black dog barking in rage, catching up to the criminal ahead of them to bite his pants leg. The guy screaming as Hattie sends him stumbling downstairs. Bear rushing down to give the outlaw a good thrashing while Nal impatiently waits to manacle/handcuff him, meanwhile Hattie is barking furiously as if cheering Beren on .

It's going to be hysterical . I hope Cassie will write adventures with me there. She's taking a few days breather, needs a small break. I know she has a lot to reply to so we'll see . I'm going to have Beren leave Nal a letter, asking him if he wants to partner up on the beat.

[Lail]

Nessa, I’m thinking about it and will let you know. Poke me if I take too long.
(Yay another guard!)

[Eriol]

Let me know if you want to team up, @Lailyn ! I'll be reading through the Toee Guard thread this week.

[Nessa Saelind]

I have been entertaining cute/hilarious visions of Bear, Nal, and Hattie on patrol. I have thought of the Rangers and the energetic black terrier having a police stake out, Bear & Nal eating pastries from Nelladel's bakery like American cops having donuts in police buddy movies while Hattie is wolfing down chicken from the Old Guesthouse .

I will literally pay you with real European money that you'll have to pay US taxes for (because writing income ) for you to write this! I am dead serious here! This is gold <3 , I am here for it! I am throwing all my glitter support and the powers of the editing faerie at this. Make it so!

[Eriol]

I was hoping you'd find these events as humorous as I did, @A Good Wife ! They will unfold. Cassie and I got speak today ; she recommended that Beren investigate Iole's disappearance, so I'm going to focus on that with Hattie in tow. If I want to find Iole/stop Arkadhur, all the clues are in her Northern fiefdoms posts she told me . Until I'm ready then, imagine Hattie wandering the white marble streets with Bear, tongue joyfully dangling out of her mouth.

[Nessa Saelind]

@Tharmáras - Yes! Somebody needs to look into that because the way Cassie wrote that scene got me really worried for poor Iole! Granted, Cassie wrote that so brilliantly , it was really creepy had me screaming WALK AWAY GIRL! YOU WALK AWAY NOW! and then RUN GIRL! RUN! I will be patiently waiting for you to write that story (with Cassie's input), so take your time, make it good. No pressure at all *hugs* ( just, please make sure she's alive and unspoiled rather than dead in a ditch somewhere, please. Love me a good autopsy scene in a crime genre, but don't want that fate for Iole. She's a sweet lass and among my fav of Cassie's Gondorians.)

[Nessa Saelind]

Sorry for the double post folks, but this is too good of an opportunity not to use it. Allow me to demonstrate how the Reunited Kingdom turned from a sleepy little Kingdom to CSI: Gondor

Exhibit A, a girl follows a handsome stranger to the circus at the Pelennor field and disappears... I've watched a lot of Scandi noir, things like these tend to end up badly... Send help!

Drawn from where she might call for her friends, or hear them, Iole supposed she was in for who knew what more surprises to come. She was not wrong.

Exhibit B, a librarian taking manuscripts that shouldn't be taken from the Minas Tirith library and giving it to a stranger. The uncanny crow observes... What torments will befall the librarian and the stranger are yet to be decided

She was really going through with this. She had taken these things from the library and she was giving them to a complete stranger. It was a risk, but a calculated one. The chance to learn the truth was more important than anything. Falaneth was sure that if only she could prove what she believed of Tandarion’s death, it would ease her pain and bring her peace, some kind of closure.
(...)
If she had looked up at the sky at all that night, she might have seen a sliver of shadow take flight behind her. A whisper of wings followed Falaneth’s trail from her house to the inn and back. When she arrived home, the crow settled itself on the eaves outside her bedroom window where he waited and he watched. Those cold, uncanny eyes were always watching.

Exhibit C, a mysterious person or persons get a young man hooked on a mysterious addictive substance. He is taught how to make it too. The healers are investigating this strange case

She set her cup down and rest her elbows on the table, her hands clasp together. "After they found Mourgan and we brought him home he was very combative and I didn't understand why. Why did he hate us so? He fought Mangus and Kelter and sometimes at the same time. We had to lock him in his room for his own good till the substance ran it's course. He tore through the place looking for it but Mangus had taken it when he wasn't looking." She reached into her apron pocket and somewhat hesitantly sat it on the table between them. A small glass vile, clear in color with a clear liquid inside it. It seemed a little thinner then honey.
"I'm not sure what to make of it Pele, I just know he nearly tore the house down looking for it. " She shook her head in dismay. "Someone taught him how to make it and now I'm afraid he'll keep using it. He says it's for pain but I think there is more to it. Have you seen this before? "

Exhibit D, Prince of Ithilien presents the case of a horse sans rider, saddle covered in dried blood... Cold have been worse, could have been a headless horse sans rider...

" Recently we found a horse which was all tacked up, and yet without a rider. The saddle was covered in dried blood..." Faramir let the fact sink in, and then continued. "At best it may be some hunter's horse that has escaped from its owner, and the blood is animal's; it could also be that the rider is injured and has fallen off the horse, and perhaps can be found and helped. And it may be that someone has killed the rider, and we might or might not find a dead body."

Apparently, even without the War and Sauron, we are destined to live in interesting times

[Eriol]

@Tharmáras - Yes! Somebody needs to look into that because the way Cassie wrote that scene got me really worried for poor Iole! Granted, Cassie wrote that so brilliantly , it was really creepy had me screaming WALK AWAY GIRL! YOU WALK AWAY NOW! and then RUN GIRL! RUN! I will be patiently waiting for you to write that story (with Cassie's input), so take your time, make it good. No pressure at all *hugs* ( just, please make sure she's alive and unspoiled rather than dead in a ditch somewhere, please. Love me a good autopsy scene in a crime genre, but don't want that fate for Iole. She's a sweet lass and among my fav of Cassie's Gondorians.)

*Hugs* You've got me intrigued even more ! I'll start reading Cassie's posts tonght after work. I'll definitely be asking her questions as I write and yes, it will be a series drama of posts . I'm anticipating the point where she joins in. I'm hoping Iole will be alive or that I can keep her alive; I love sweet girls. I let Cassie know how much you adore Iole .

[Eriol]

Sorry for the double post folks, but this is too good of an opportunity not to use it. Allow me to demonstrate how the Reunited Kingdom turned from a sleepy little Kingdom to CSI: Gondor

Exhibit A, a girl follows a handsome stranger to the circus at the Pelennor field and disappears... I've watched a lot of Scandi noir, things like these tend to end up badly... Send help!

Drawn from where she might call for her friends, or hear them, Iole supposed she was in for who knew what more surprises to come. She was not wrong.

Exhibit B, a librarian taking manuscripts that shouldn't be taken from the Minas Tirith library and giving it to a stranger. The uncanny crow observes... What torments will befall the librarian and the stranger are yet to be decided

She was really going through with this. She had taken these things from the library and she was giving them to a complete stranger. It was a risk, but a calculated one. The chance to learn the truth was more important than anything. Falaneth was sure that if only she could prove what she believed of Tandarion’s death, it would ease her pain and bring her peace, some kind of closure.
(...)
If she had looked up at the sky at all that night, she might have seen a sliver of shadow take flight behind her. A whisper of wings followed Falaneth’s trail from her house to the inn and back. When she arrived home, the crow settled itself on the eaves outside her bedroom window where he waited and he watched. Those cold, uncanny eyes were always watching.

Exhibit C, a mysterious person or persons get a young man hooked on a mysterious addictive substance. He is taught how to make it too. The healers are investigating this strange case

She set her cup down and rest her elbows on the table, her hands clasp together. "After they found Mourgan and we brought him home he was very combative and I didn't understand why. Why did he hate us so? He fought Mangus and Kelter and sometimes at the same time. We had to lock him in his room for his own good till the substance ran it's course. He tore through the place looking for it but Mangus had taken it when he wasn't looking." She reached into her apron pocket and somewhat hesitantly sat it on the table between them. A small glass vile, clear in color with a clear liquid inside it. It seemed a little thinner then honey.
"I'm not sure what to make of it Pele, I just know he nearly tore the house down looking for it. " She shook her head in dismay. "Someone taught him how to make it and now I'm afraid he'll keep using it. He says it's for pain but I think there is more to it. Have you seen this before? "

Exhibit D, Prince of Ithilien presents the case of a horse sans rider, saddle covered in dried blood... Cold have been worse, could have been a headless horse sans rider...

" Recently we found a horse which was all tacked up, and yet without a rider. The saddle was covered in dried blood..." Faramir let the fact sink in, and then continued. "At best it may be some hunter's horse that has escaped from its owner, and the blood is animal's; it could also be that the rider is injured and has fallen off the horse, and perhaps can be found and helped. And it may be that someone has killed the rider, and we might or might not find a dead body."

Apparently, even without the War and Sauron, we are destined to live in interesting times

I have the Bree Constublary in the Imladris Forum. I have been thinking today of bringing Elizabeth Rose, Annabelle Snapdragon's daughter, to help the Tower Guard as a consultant. So I can show Ann's daughter as an adult in the Fourth Age, helping Beren in his investigations. Haha, CSI Bree / CSI Gondor crossover .

If I decide Elizabeth Rose becomes an Arnorian soldier instead, fighting to purge the evil from Eriador (mentioned for the Fourth Age in Return of the King: Homeward Bound. I'll show this in AoA and the peopling of New Arnor) or serving the Arnorian army when the Reunited Realm makes war in the south and east with Aragorn and Eomer (mentioned in Appendix A for the Fourth Age. I'll show this in AoA, too) , then I'll bring Inspector Annabelle Snapdragon herself .

[Lail]

@A Good Wife - Let's say some were under lock and key. Go big or go home, I say!!
@Tharmáras, I'd be happy to team up anytime if you like. I'm up for pretty much anything.

My my, there sure is a lot going on! if I knew Gondorians misbehaved so much I'd have made my way here sooner! Loving all the unfolding plots.

[Eriol]

Good to know, @Lailyn ! What's your guard character like? I'll be tagging you when I'm ready! Cassie will join us when she can and as Narradir's daughter, Sorrel, during the search for Iole. She'll play Arkadhur, the villain, as well.

@Pele Alarion Cassie tells me that Cadil could be a witness with Nal about the Iole situation. When I'm ready, could you write him speaking to Beren about what happened?

[Nessa Saelind]

@Lailyn - thank you What I had in mind (and not to give too much away now) was that not all books, documents, manuscripts, tablets etc. that are located in the library's archive available to the public. For 90% of the archival material, a person would be granted clearance/given permission to read the material in the library at their own leisure. However, some material would require more consideration for viewing and you might get clearance to read under supervision. And there are a few very special items (1% of the material in the library/archive) that are kept in the vaults under lock and key and my uncanny Librarian guards. You'll see more about it when I finally get to writing this post (I'm just outlining this here to keep myself in check so I can't procrastinate much )

@Tharmáras - hahaha, yes we do need a CSI Bree / CSI Gondor crossover! Perhaps a crime syndicate from Umbar (because apparently, Umbar is everyone's favourite crime city )? *thinking face* It can be a Kingdom wide RP plot/storyline with posts in Mordor, Gondor and Imladris *thinks and plots* It's an ambitious project, but we can do it! Not right now! But I'll keep this in the slow cooker and see what becomes of this.

[Eriol]

I don't know about that, @A Good Wife . As far as I know, only Gondor is Fourth Age. Harad is supposed to make peace with Gondor by now mentioned in Return of the King: The Steward and the King. There is supposed to be war in the East and the South, Aragorn and Eomer conquering the Dark Men, spoken of in Appendix A, refusing to bow during this period at some point.

I think we need to see the slow evolution of Harad here from a strong beaten foe to a humbled ally. I'm going to write the Umbarian father of my Corsairs helping the Reunited Realm or have his brother take over as loyal to Elessar...with some difficulty, not everyone aboard with the pacifist.

[Nessa Saelind]

First of all, stop blowing holes in my ship @Tharmáras!

I would also like to point out that, in general, crime syndicates don't give a fig about peacetime or wartime (War is good for business to quote the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition ). What they do care about if profit, and there is potential for it here. I'm stressing potential, not that it needs to happen or that it will happen.

This is too complex of an idea that requires detailed musings and broodings upon, dedicated and meticulous research and careful development - half a year of work by my standards. So this idea shall now go off to marinade, like a proper Roman complex dish , for half a year in my brain and I shall see what comes out of it. (Knowing me most likely it will continue to marinade there for another year but hope remains eternal! )

[Eriol]

Noted, and you have your ceasefire, @A Good Wife . That being said, I will begin plotting & writing my peacemaking Umbarians / Haradrim soon here ☮✌🏳🕊.

[Isolde Alarion]

“Peace making Umbararians...pfft...” Relic scoffs under her breath as she sits at the back of the room listening in on the others conversations while she enjoys a glass of wine.

[Eriol]

Yeah I'm sure plenty of our evil Umbarians won't bend the knee, @Isolde Alarion , like brutal Relic and my diabolical Corsair Sarabeth (she presses her wine glass against Relic's in villainy salute ) . Kfir, her brother, may have died in the War of the Ring though. I need to think about it.

[Nessa Saelind]

@Tharmáras I never said you couldn't have your "hippy" "peacemaking Umbarians / Haradrim". Have you forgotten how I encourage you to write and not to mention add over the top ideas for you to develop? Have you forgotten the noble Noldo Lord Byron?! *clutches pearls* Oh and by the by, Nessa's cousin Roderic is married to a wealthy merchant's daughter from Harad (a story that needs to be told in detail soon).

@Isolde Alarion - Relic and you are my kind of people *hugs* Here's looking at you kid! *cheers*

[Eriol]

See? Roderic's Haradrim wife must not be an evil bloodthirsty Sauron-worshipping maniac.

My Umbarian hippy will smoke but I do promise not to clothe him in tye dye shirts. He might quote the Beatles though. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." "War is over ... If you want it." "All you need is love." Yeah. That can be a thing.

[Nessa Saelind]

1. See? Roderic's Haradrim wife must not be an evil bloodthirsty Sauron-worshipping maniac.

2. My Umbarian hippy will smoke but I do promise not to clothe him in tye dye shirts. He might quote the Beatles though. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." "War is over ... If you want it." "All you need is love." Yeah. That can be a thing.

1. I can't even... I am snorting with laughter here and I can barely formulate sentences But you are adorably ridiculous today

2. What even is this! Nope, this is just hilarious... My face hurts from laughing I can't even

[Lail]

@Tharmáras, uhhh I'd say my guard Hathaldir is sort of a jerk but has reasons for being so. He's kind of grumpy, irate and he came to Minas Tirith and joined the Tower Guard to get inside info on a death ruled a suicide that he believes was a murder. I haven't actually written that part anywhere yet but its coming.

If tasked with it, I am sure he would help investigate Iole's disappearance and might even be able to sympathize/care a little bit about a young woman going missing. I can guarantee he would love to see Arkadhur punished. Up to you if you and Ercassie want him involved or not.

@A Good Wife, your library vault ideas sound fantastic to me! I am very on board with all of this. I can't wait to see what you do with it (thought take your time of course ). Will it throw you off much if I move ahead with Falaneth and Hathaldir's stolen books plot a little?

[Eriol]

Your face hurts from laughing, @A Good Wife ? That is high praise, friend . It's my honor .

@Lailyn , fancy that! My High Elf Hatholdir is a jerk . Cassie advised me not to get confused but maybe someday my Hatholdir can meet your Hathaldir who does mining in Ered Nimrais (and of course there's Hattie...it would be hysterical ) . I'll ask Cassie if we can include you in the Iole part when we talk tomorrow . She did say there will be a point when Bear calls in reinforcements .

[Lail]

Its in the name apparently?? That could definitely get confusing! On the plus side, Hathaldir is an alias (real name to be revealed) but it would still be both hilarious and confusing for them to meet while he's using it. Perhaps he heard tale of this jerky elven Hatholdir and was inspired...

[Eriol]

"Hey, I heard you're an Elf who betrayed a city once." - Hathaldir

"None of the lies people tell about me can change who I really am... I'm not a traitor. I am a savior, a hero..." - Hatholdir, putting his arm around Hathaldir as he gives his fellow jerk an alternative history of his sordid life story.

We'll make it happen sometime this year, @Lailyn , , got to get some other Gondorian stuff done first.

[Nessa Saelind]

@Lailyn - I'm glad you like it *hugs* And yes, of course, go ahead with the stollen books plot what I had in mind for the moment was that at the moment lady Hellebore, my librarian, is merely observing Falaneth and Hathaldir and their interactions. She isn't interfering, because she senses that there's no ill intention or threat to the manuscripts themselves from either party. At the moment. Since she is a guardian of the library and its archives a part of her essence, her power is in the most important manuscripts (kind of like Sauron put his power into the One Ring, except lady Hellebore, puts a small amount of her power into important manuscripts, books and documents - the top-secret ones) and she senses their presence and knows approximately where they are. If you want you can say that damage to the document or evil intent towards the document triggers some kind of reaction, like poison on the pages (like the book from The Name of the Rose that killed the monk ). If that happens I can also plot slow revenge posts should be fun. Hope I helped you some, not just thrown random ideas

@Tharmáras *pins award for making Nessa's face hurt from laughing on you* Keep up the good work

[Eriol]

I would like to RP a canon character, Arwen, who is Queen of Gondor now. I'd just write her in the Northern Fiefdoms and Southern Fiefdoms Free RP threads if that's alright, @Pele Alarion @Arnyn ⚘ ?

My Elf-lady NPC, Airien Mereniel, I'd like to write as Arwen's handmaiden. I'd be able to dramatize this role effectively if I could use Arwen who Airien would interact with.

I enjoy making you laugh to you're sore, @A Good Wife , and I will gladly cherish this award .

[Nessa Saelind]

I'm not Pele or Arnyn, but I'm a historian who loves her medieval queens and empresses so I'm going to put on my history hat now and ramble for a (hopefully, short) while.

In Appendix B, The Tale of Years Tolkien mentions that Elrond and Arwen set out from Rivendell on May 1st, 3019. I am assuming they did not set out on this journey alone, but with a retinue, although Tolkien doesn't say much about it. Then on May 20th, they came to Lórien, and on May 27th "The escort of Arwen leaves Lórien". So here we see Tolkien actually mentioning that Arwen, a high noble elf lady, has a retinue. Praise be that historical common sense kicked in... *grumbles into the void*

Empresses, queens, high born ladies, noblewomen, rich women in general during the Middle Ages in Europe didn't travel without a retinue. And queens and queens to be always had their retinue (and their own household too) that went with them, which included a variety of ladies-in-waiting who had different duties depending on their importance and status. I'm at the office, so I can't pull out history books for quotes, but if needed I shall when I get home. Sufficed to say that it would be extremely strange, not to mention unlikely if Arwen arrived in Minas Tirith without retinue and at least one or two ladies-in-waiting.

Besides, again from Appendix B, The Tale of Years 1436 S.R. (F.A. 15) "Elanor (Samwise's daughter op.a.) is made a maid of honour to Queen Arwen." so there's that. All of this rather longwinded essay in the making to say that, yes it's plausible and logical that Arwen has ladies-in-waiting and that one of them could be @Tharmáras NPC elf-lady and I see no problem with this. From a historical, logical and Tolkien standpoint Carry on then!

[Eriol]

Thank you for all the historical and lore knowledge here to illustrate the probability, @A Good Wife and for giving me some advice in our personal messaging !

Got Pele's and Arnyn's approval on Discord! So I'll add Queen Arwen posting to my Gondor activities list !

[Winddancer]

We'll make it happen sometime this year, @Lailyn , , got to get some other Gondorian stuff done first.

This year?? Bit optimistic there, aren't you?? :P

[Eriol]

You know me well by now it seems, @Winddancer . Fingers crossed anyway .

[Winddancer]

[Nessa Saelind]

This year?? Bit optimistic there, aren't you?? :P

*dies laughing* Touché Windy, touché! *insert Douze Points sign here*

[Lail]

"Hey, I heard you're an Elf who betrayed a city once." - Hathaldir

"None of the lies people tell about me can change who I really am... I'm not a traitor. I am a savior, a hero..." - Hatholdir, putting his arm around Hathaldir as he gives his fellow jerk an alternative history of his sordid life story.

We'll make it happen sometime this year, @Lailyn , , got to get some other Gondorian stuff done first.

Love it. I'll add it to my pot of plots stewing away for the future whether its this year or not its all good!

@A Good Wife (I keep trying to unsuccessfully tag you as Nessa ), Your ideas are all wonderful! Feel free to send lady Hellebore stalking them around any thread you see them in if you want to. Now I am very tempted to damage the manuscripts somehow and unleash a curse... Can't make life too easy for them, that'd be no fun. (I always meant to read The Name of the Rose but still haven't got around to it but great reminder!)

[The Good Hunter]

Not to toot my own horn (though I very much am) please feel free to react and/or investigate the crime perpetrated in the Minas Tirith Free RP. I am curious to see how people might react to it

Also a reminder to myself: I will be doing my best to catch up on all things Gondor this weekend

[Nessa Saelind]

@Lailyn - It's still strange to me too! More than one time I glanced at my new username and it didn't connect with me I'll be back to my normal self in March to everyone's relief I'm really looking forward to what you'll come up with and how the story will play out.

@The King in Yellow - absolutely self-promote your amazing work! I'll add you to the crime watch list! BTW I was just about to enthusiastically comment on how Frost is finally in Minas Tirith and can't wait what mischief he'll cause Your post is amazingly creepy. I kept imagining Minas Tirith as an old western ghost town, tumbleweeds rolling in the streets while Frost's creaky wagon rolls through the empty streets. And I was like, yes! Weird Middle Earth Western! I have to think of a way to incorporate one or two of my characters into this. Probably my Librarian, since you mentioned you Frost was going there. *thinking and plotting galore*

[Ercassie]

I'll ask Cassie if we can include you in the Iole part when we talk tomorrow . She did say there will be a point when Bear calls in reinforcements .

You don’t need my permission to join in @Lailyn. You are very welcome. I may throw Sorrel into the mess, yes, if you happen to need any more help from an investigative point, @Tharmáras, as I said.

It certainly looks like there is a sudden influx of crime ! I only popped in to catch up on what I’ve missed this week and holy heck ! It’s a good job poor Hathaldir has some help en route.

@The King in Yellow, that was a most terribly brilliant post ! But well, my undertaker isn’t going to be cleaning that one up ! No sir ! I’ll leave it to the guard and the err healers and umm didn’t someone hand @Winddancer’s young orphan a broom to sweep up messes ?

I should/hope/might/am crossing fingers to be back on Monday-ish. Apologies to anyone I have kept waiting this week. *flees from Gotham/Gondor*

[Eriol]

*plays Law and Order theme as images of Beren walking along white marble streets with Hattie at his heel, swinging her tail happily with a dead pigeon in her mouth, appears on screen *

I'll begin writing The Undertaker's Daughter Tower Guard story right after Cirdan's Court tomorrow, @Ercassie . I'm certain you won't mind a fancy title . I read all your lovely posts and got the chills during the last I read ; we'll talk about them soon .

"*volunteers Beren to go find the mutilated body frost left behind* " - @Ercassie to me, out of character.

I havent read @The King in Yellow 's post yet (I will tonight after work) but a little firebird told me there's a gory scene at the Library. I love the Old West. Lawman Beren and his rambunctious Patterdale will be investigating the case for a Tower Guard story A Study in Crimson , since you offered someone to look into the matter, Frost, and I hope you don't mind the Sherlockian title. @A Good Wife and I wanted Beren at the Library soon since he will be charged a quest from her soon.

[Pele Alarion]

*props feet on the desk, sips tea and glances over the various posts* Not gonna deal with any dead things... might climb the mountains and take a vacation.

[The Good Hunter]

@A Good Wife I am game for some Weird West! that's a horror muscle I am very good with, living in the Southwest and writing horror as I do. I can't wait to see what your librarian does and how they react to some corpse art

@Ercassie all the crime is coming! calling Gondor Gotham has now got me thinking which villain Frost is, I shall have to have a thonk about this

@Tharmáras I look forward to it! I can help in a variety of ways of course, all potentially culminating in a showdown between Beren and Frost! As for the name, I love the Sherlock reference (Benedict Cumberbatch all day, everyday) perhaps we could call it A Study in Ivory? As the color white features much more prominently in the post? though you'll find that out when you read it

[Nessa Saelind]

I am slightly not coherent, so bear with if I'm not coherent enough... Onwards to glory...

@Ercassie - "a sudden influx of crime" says the mastermind plotter behind one such crime schemes And I know we keep saying this to everyone, take your time it's not like anyone is... Excise? Expunge? Erase! Ha! that from the record please and thank you! But, yes, no rush. *hug*

@Tharmáras - Erm yes? Soon was a rather stretchy term? Term? Notion? Concept? Your Audacy is not yet to begin! Wait a couple of IC years, aka a few months in RL for me to finish what I planned, but yes, introductions and judgements will be made. Wow, I don't know if this is purposefully vague or I'm even more incoherent than I thought! Bravo me *slow clap* Well at least I don't have any typos. I think. *pats herself on the back*

@The King in Yellow - I have some ideas about that, but I think the severity? seriousness? of her involvement and interference will depend on how much of a threat the corpse (and Frost by extension) is/are to certain materials in the library. If the threat is minimal she will observe with amusement, perhaps even give some advice to Beren when he investigates this matter. If the threat to the library and the manuscripts/books/documents is serious she will interfere but only to the extent needed to protect the library. Wow, again I can't decide if I'm vague on purpose or incoherent? The jury is still debating the case, you can place your bets

Still no typos as far as I can see! Bravo me!

[Eriol]

@The King in Yellow , let's discuss it on our discord chat and I'm anticipating all our collaborative stories to come, bud ! I'll be on Discord after work and sometime on Sunday. We'll call it A Study in Ivory! I'm assuming it's because of bones ☠. Frost and Bear should have a final showdown (I'm assuming Bear will face Arkadhur in the Undertaker's Daughter as well unless he turns out yo be a good guy) though let's keep them both alive. Perhaps we can see Beren in his skin-changer guise at some point during it too . Does your latest post in Northern Fiefdoms tie into this as a prelude?

@A Good Wife, yes, introductions ⚘. I know you still need RL time to get ready for the Eastern story and that the mystical Librarian will charge the wuest to Beren in the somewhat distant future.

[The Good Hunter]

@Tharmáras The Northern Fiefdom post is actually a coda to a storyline Moriel and I were playing out, it's Frost getting rid of the "leftovers" whilst sending a message to the Gondorians/Rangers. Immediately after the post Frost is heading to Rohan (which has already been played out) on his way to Angmar. If/When Beren and Frost encounter each other it would be after he's come back (but you're right, we can iron out the details on Discord later, hit me up when your available)